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Team Sarcoma Essen
By Dr. Sebastian Bauer Sarcoma Center West German Cancer Center University Hospital Essen Germany
The first participation as a “satellite” team of the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative’s Team Sarcoma 2006 project took place on one of the hottest days of the year in the middle of the FIFA football world championship. 30 determined bikers met in the early afternoon in front of the famous Gruga-Center, one of the largest indoor stadiums in Germany to receive an early briefing of the tour. Among the participants were patients and relatives, representatives from the GIST-initiative “Das Lebenshaus”, sarcoma surgeons, oncologists (including a participant in the 8th month of her pregnancy), radiotherapists, anaesthesiologists, etc.
Photo 1: Dr. Bauer gives a briefing of the upcoming tour
The tour comprised of 30km of hilly terrain that led around the beautiful Lake Baldeney.
Photo 2: Increasing tensions before the tour at 32° C
Just after the start of the tour the peloton encountered their first challenging situation when they passed a strawberry field and were forced to have their first picnic.
Photo 3: Shocked by the invasion of 30 hungry Team Sarcoma bikers
After about 90 minutes of a beautiful ride the first destination was reached, the Lake Baldeney, and the starting point for a 2 KM mountain stage (150 meters height) that led up to the “Hohes Kreuz” (“high cross”) of Fischlaken, Essen.
Photo 4: Karl Pelzing, husband to GIST patient Karin
The race started with a fierce attack from oncologist Dr. Axel Schneider who was chased by Surgeon Dr. Schmitz and medical student Simeon Schietzel. Schietzel’s youth finally made the race and he outpaced his experienced colleagues (easily).
Photo 5: 5 Winners of the mountain stage
The senior’s category was won by Karl Pelzing, the women’s race went to oncologist Dr. Cathrin Walter and the youth medal went to Leonhard Ruchholtz, son of sarcoma surgeon Prof. Steffen Ruchholtz.
Photo 6: Mrs Pelzing (right) and Mrs. Pilgermann (left) heal the wounds after the mountain stage.
Exhausted from the race, the peloton had a break at the Lake Baldeney where GIST patient and Director of the regional group of “Das Lebenshaus”-GIST-Initiative Karin Pelzing was waiting along with the girl friend of GIST patient and Lebenshaus-Representative Kai Pilgermann to treat everyone with fruits, drinks and a beautiful view.
Photo 7: Lake Baldeney
After one flat tire on the way home, the peloton was torn apart but everybody finally arrived at the “army tent” in front of the operation room of the Essen University hospital.
Photo 8: “Camp” in front of the University Hospital
With the central air-suction system for the hospital just in front of us, everybody inside the hospital was able to enjoy the smell of sausages with us.
Photo 9: Gunter Strohbach - Chef of Tour Sarcoma 2006
With the help of the pathology assistant Gunter Strohbach the riders were greeted with a convincing barbecue to get ready for the medal ceremony.
Photo 10: The proud winners of the Liddy Shriver Tour Sarcoma Event
The post-tour event was then started by Sarcoma Surgeon Dr. Georg Taeger and Dr. Sebastian Bauer with an introduction of all participants which allowed patients to meet the sarcoma specialists and vice versa. Karin Pelzing, director of the regional branch of “Das Lebenshaus” and GIST patient herself introduced the work of the GIST-Initiative, which to this date, is the only sarcoma initiative in Germany.
The money raised by the event totalled the sum of almost 500€ which will be donated to the Gist Support International (GSI)-Team-funds that participated in the central event in Denmark at the same time. All funds will go to the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative and will be used to sponsor sarcoma research.
All participants were already looking forward to join the event next year and help expanding the idea of “Sarcoma Knows No Borders”.
Photo 11: Team Sarcoma Essen greets all Team Sarcomas in the world!
Organizers of the tour and post-tour event were Dr. Georg Taeger and Prof. Steffen Ruchholz (surgical oncology), Dr. Florian Grabellus and Dr. Sien Yi Sheu (pathology), Britta Taeger and Dr. Sebastian Bauer (medical oncology).
Special thanks and greetings are sent to Bruce Shriver (from the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative), Lee Ann Lamb and Marina Symcox (from GSI Support International) to name the representatives we know- from the USA for their leadership in founding their sarcoma initiatives, building bridges, bringing people together, raising awareness and promoting research in an orphan diseases like sarcoma.
Thanks also to Boehringer Ingelheim, who generously supported the event. A few further impressions from the tour follow.
Photo 12: Dr. Florian Grabellus (sarcoma pathology) discussing the difficult stages ahead
Photo 13: The Muders family on tour
Photo 14: Essen back lands
Photo 15: Kai Pilgermann from "Das Lebenshaus" - racing along
Photo 16: Mountain stage "Hohes Kreuz"
Photo 17: Happy to survive the climb
Photo 18: Dr. Peter Ebeling (medical oncology) and Dr. Sien Yi Sheu (pathology)
Photo 19: Simeon Schietzel, GIST researcher and winner of the mountain stage...
Photo 20: Prof. Steffen Ruchholz (sarcoma surgery) and son Leonhardt (winner of the youth category)
Photo 21: Gunter Strohbach and Dr. Florian Grabellus at work (lemonade)
Photo 22: Britta Taeger before the race
Photo 23: Dr. Axel Schneider, explaining his 2nd rank in the mountain stage
Photo 24: 10 more kilometres to go
Photo 25: Group picture in the sun
Photo 26: Lawyer Stephanie Post and Surgeon Georg Taeger racing along...
Photo 27: The Welt-family before the Gruga Center - ready to roll
Photo 28: Oncologist Dr. Welt coaching her son for the juniors category
Photo 29: Medical oncologist Dr. Steiniger (8th months) barely stoppable to compete in the womens category
Photo 30: Isolated-limb-perfusion researcher Nina Legaz and Surgeon Dr. Daniel Schmitz
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